Anorexia and Bulimia - Eating Disorders

Anorexia and bulimia, are these psychological disorders or do they stem from another disorder? When we hear of someone with an eating disorder we see someone who is unstable and weak, although, with research we find there are multiple causes for one to take the steps to engage in such behaviors. It isn’t always under their powers; other disorders cause these ill people to take such actions.

What is an eating disorder? “A category of mental disorders characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior,” (Hockenbury 342) One of the most commong eating disorders known in today’s society is anorexia. Although it is more common, it can be a “potentially life-threatening illness,” (Heller 115). Anorexia typically begins with a diet, yet spirals out of control. (McQuillan 68) These patients tend to believe they are always fat, and refuse to see that their condition is a serious medical condition.

The major difference between the regular dieter and the Deadly Dieter has to do with the issue of control. It is not, as some professionals have stated, that the Deadly Dieter is too much in control and needs to learn to let go. The Deadly Dieter is totally out of control. Even the "perfect" diet, itself, is out of control. The regular dieter is in control of the diet. The Deadly Dieter is controlled by the diet.

Anorexics exhibit multiple symptoms including fatigue due to the lack of nutrients from self-starvation. When anorexics sit down to eat they tend to play with their food, moving it around on their plate to give it the appearance that he or she has eaten. (Doctor 208)

People with anorexia lose large amounts of weight quickly through low calorie intake and excessive exercise. They refuse to eat, and when they do they maybe become ill because their body is not use to such intake.

With “8 million reported victims of eating disorders in the United States-7 million of them women,” (Doctor 207) the physical changes that occur take a toll on the body. Meaning, in severe cases females will no longer have a menstrual period. These patients seem to be ashamed, as they dress in layers to hide their significant weight loss. It’s as if their “success” is not of a positive manner, as they become withdrawn from friends and family.

Although anorexia is very common, bulimia “affects 1 to 2 percent of teenage girls and young women,” while 10 percent of all bulimia patients are male. (Heller 115) Patients with bulimia, like anorexic patients fear gaining weight, however, bulimic patients tend to be of average weight or slightly overweight, and realize they have an eating disorder.

So how does bulimia differ? It is an illness “characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by self induced vomiting, vigorous exercise, and/or laxative and diuretic abuse to prevent weight gain”. (Doctor 208) A bulimic will binge frequently eating as many as 50,000 calories at one sitting. With a sense of lack of control over their eating behavior, they feel guilty or ashamed overeating and feel the need to rid themselves of the food. After binging he or she typically disappears into a bathroom to vomit, with vomiting comes relief.

It’s more difficult to diagnose bulimic patients as they are very secretive about their rituals. However, some common symptoms include secretively consuming large amounts of food while never gaining weight, and alcohol and drug abuse, while also being sexually promiscuous and hoarding food in strange places. After some time, faithful bulimics have dental problems caused by the vomiting and stomach acid on their teeth.

Having discussed one extreme of eating disorders there is the opposing extreme, Binge Eating Disorder. Binge eating disorder “affects 2 to 5 percent of Americans and occurs in both males and females,” (Heller 116) and more often than not, adults rather than teenagers. Like bulimia, binge eaters also have recurrent episodes of binge eating although they fear gaining weight and feel ashamed and depressed after a binge, there is no urge felt to rid them of all the food consumed. This is why binge eaters tend to be overweight, if not obese.

Common symptoms of such a serious disorder come in many areas. One tends to eat huge amounts in one sitting quickly whether or not they are hungry. If they aren’t eating they seem to think about food often. They also withdraw from others, this is their way of hiding the amount of food they consume due to their guilt and being ashamed.

Now what is it that causes one to indulge them into such serious and risky behavior? Many reasons actually. It seems although it is a disorder in itself, there are multiple disorders and factors hidden behind it.

Research has found that genetics are involved in many cases. This has also shown decreased brain activity is another reason why eating disorders co-occur with other